How to roast chestnuts on an open fire (or in the oven)

Now that Jack Frost is nipping at our noses, it’s time to roast some chestnuts.

December is the height of chestnut season. They grow from mid-fall until early spring, and they peak right around the holidays. Nat King Cole made chestnuts synonymous with a picturesque Christmas when he sang the words “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose” in “A Christmas Song.”

Have you ever actually roasted chestnuts during the holidays? Or ever? This video from ChefTips with Jason Hill shows how to choose, prepare, and roast chestnuts both over an open fire and in the oven.

Once you’ve roasted your chestnuts, what should you do with them? Here are a few recipes that call for roasted chestnuts.